Page 25 - Scholarship Guide Aug 2020

23

Why did you choose the development management. My role there in- legislative requirement of the enhanced Energy
Singapore Sustainability cludes mapping the local environmental R&D Conservation Act. I had the chance to work
Scholarship? eco-system, as well as taking stock of the vari- with different agencies and stakeholders of
industrial and energy services companies. This
ous R&D projects, and capabilities. I am also
The values of the agencies offering the schol- involved in the formulation of NEA's Intellec- gave me the opportunity to better appreciate
arship resonated with me. I wanted to be part tual Property (IP) Policy, which will help NEA their challenges and broaden my perspectives.
of an organisation’s mission where I can make actively manage our growing IP portfolio more
a positive impact on people’s everyday lives. holistically. The work in ETD exposes me to a Besides my core work, I was appointed as li-
Certainly, the opportunity to study abroad, to wide variety of topics, from the environmen- aison offi cer for an international event where
challenge myself in a foreign environment, was tal landscape, to the digital landscape, and it I was exposed to the area of international re-
attractive too. At that age, I wanted to experi- is interesting to know what multi-disciplinary lations and I had the opportunities to get to
ence living outside of Singapore to broaden my sustainability work entails. know the foreign delegates on a more personal
perspectives. basis. I recalled playing host to a delegate of
the United Nations Framework Convention on
What course did you graduate Singapore Climate Change (UNFCCC). I also worked with
in and why did you choose this Sustainability other offi cers from NEA more closely, which I
see as an important opportunity to establish
discipline? Scholarship networks, and better understand the work of
I pursued a Diplôme d’Ingénieur in Materi- (Previously known other divisions at the same time. I felt a sense
als Science and Engineering from the Institut as the National of fulfi lment to be part of a well-executed
National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon in Environment & event.
France, followed by a Master’s degree in En- Water Scholarship)
vironment and Sustainable Development at
University College London, UK. Like many Chew Li Hong
other 18-year-olds, I was not entirely sure Age: 29
about what I wanted to do. I chose to study
engineering as it was a subject that is broad Attained: Masters in
yet applicable to so many fi elds. Science in Environment and
Sustainable Development,
During my undergraduate studies, I worked on University College London,
projects and sought internships opportunities
that were related to the topics on sustainabil- UK
ity. I did a research project on applications in Now: Engineer, Technology
carbon capture during my year in Stockholm,
and another project on valorising waste from & Systems Integration
the wood pulp industry in Sweden. Through Division, Environment
these stints, I decided that I wanted to have a Technology Department
more holistic education in the area of sustain-
able development. Hence I chose to pursue From: Hwa Chong
a MSc in Environment and Sustainable De- What do you enjoy about
velopment in University College London, UK Institution working in NEA?
where I learnt about how the world works,
how the social and environmental change are Working in NEA allows me to interact with
inextricably linked, and how power relations Prior to this, I was with the Resource Conser- a diverse group of people, both within and
shape the environment we live in. vation Department (RCD) where I worked on a outside the public sector. NEA’s work touches
wide range of work and had the opportunities many aspects of Singaporeans’ lives. It is inter-
Share with us your working to work with partners on promoting industrial esting to understand every stakeholder’s role
and contributions in advancing sustainability,
energy effi ciency. I was part of the planning
experience in NEA. What are team for the Energy Effi ciency National Part- and I am constantly learning something new or
some of the notable projects nership (EENP), and we oversaw an incentive gaining fresh perspectives. Colleagues in NEA
that you are currently working scheme to encourage industrial companies to are down-to-earth people, for which I am very
grateful.
implement energy effi ciency improvement
or have worked on? measures. We also organised the annual EENP
I had the opportunity to work in the Resource Awards and conference. I was also working
Conservation Department (RCD) and Environ- on a few key and interesting projects, such What advice can you give
ment Technology Department (ETD) over the as the development of the Energy Effi ciency to aspiring scholars who
span of 3 years in NEA. In both departments, I Technology Centre (EETC), which provided me are considering taking the
have been involved in various processes, which the opportunity to collaborate with partners
are essential to programme planning and sup- like Singapore Institute of Technology and scholarship?
porting policy-making. SkillsFuture Singapore, to ensure the success- Talk to the people working at NEA or PUB, as
ful implementation of the programme. I was well as the working scholars at various stages
I am currently working as an Engineer at the also involved in planning and implementing the of their career. Understand yourself, motiva-
Environment Technology Department (ETD), Energy Effi ciency Opportunities (EEO) Asses- tions and aspirations. Expect change and chal-
supporting the team's work in research & sors Certifi cation Scheme, which supports the lenges along the way.